Chapter 135: Tian Dao: You Thought I Was on the First Floor—But I'm in the Atmosphere 【Monthly Ticket Bonus Update】

“Shuimo, this isn’t tasty,” said Dannika, pushing her bowl away.

Tian Dao set down his chopsticks too, then smiled. “Yeah, I agree. It really isn’t that good.”

“But why didn’t you just tell me?” Dannika asked, eyebrows raised.

Tian Dao’s glasses flashed a cold gleam under the light. He answered with dead seriousness. “Because I wanted you to taste it too. After all, what if it’s not the noodles that are bad—but my sense of taste?”

Dannika: “…”

Though Tian Dao spoke with complete sincerity, the little girl—who had been shadowing him for days—knew instantly this was pure mischief. No doubt about it. That was exactly how Tian Dao rolled.

Thinking this, Dannika instantly turned her head, cheeks puffed up like an angry little pufferfish, clearly furious.

Tian Dao, unfazed, slid a stack of cash onto the table. The amount far exceeded the price of two bowls of ramen.

The noodle shop owner hesitated, then pushed the money back. “Sir, you’re giving too much.”

“This extra is compensation for the damage to your shop,” Tian Dao said calmly.

The owner blinked, then slowly looked toward the door. Outside, a group of men in blood-red skull masks had materialized.

At their front stood the very same Blood Skull lieutenant who’d earlier caused trouble at the Rust Nail Bar—Cesaro.

No one knew where the man had found his nerve, but he now charged forward, kicking open the wooden door with a loud crash.

Spotting Tian Dao and Dannika behind the counter, he sneered. “Blood Skull’s business—get lost, bystanders!”

The remaining customers scattered instantly. Even the shop owner and kitchen staff fled through the back door.

Now, the cramped noodle shop was left with only Tian Dao in his Fifth Squad captain’s uniform, Dannika in her Stellar Envoy gear, and a gang of bloodthirsty thugs facing off.

Then, the absurdity began.

Boom!

With a chuckle from the Dimensional Audience, Cesaro was once again tossed out of the shop—just like before—flying through the air and landing face-first on the ground, his rear sticking up like a clumsy clown.

Same time. Same place. Same result.

Though the Dimensional Audience knew Cesaro was just a minor pawn, the fact that he’d been featured twice in the main narrative meant he had to be significant.

“Alright,” Tian Dao said smoothly, “take me to your new leader.”

Cesaro’s pupils snapped wide.

He knew the new boss had specifically warned against revealing their internal affairs. And now, this newcomer—this Fifth Squad captain—had just named their new leader like he’d been told in secret.

Someone in their ranks was a traitor.

“Still not moving?” Tian Dao asked, voice calm. “I’d hate to see you end up in the prison up in the Upper City.”

Cesaro trembled. His eyes flicked to Tian Dao’s glasses—now fully engulfed in radiant light.

After a brief hesitation, he stood up quickly. “Y-yes, of course! I’ll take you there right away!”

Between betrayal and survival, Cesaro chose the former without a second thought. He wasn’t worth much—what was a few coins compared to his life?

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[Rust Iron Hell, Fourth District – An underground alchemy lab]

“Kong,” Liu Ma muttered, still glaring at Chen Kong, “I told you letting this idiot go alone would be trouble.”

“Look at you now—both of you are on the wanted list. How do you plan to handle this from here?”

Chen Kong sat quietly, ignoring the jabs. Vivian, the one being blamed, didn’t react at all. Instead, she calmly replied, “Kong, Liu Ma’s right. You don’t need to protect me. I’ll go to the Church myself and explain everything. I’ll clear my name.”

Chen Kong pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated. “Vivian, don’t you get it yet?”

“The Church doesn’t care if you’re innocent. They just need a scapegoat.”

“Why else would they say you stole the sacred relic—when you were sent by them to find it?”

“That’s not a mistake—it’s a setup.”

“So listen to me. Let’s go hide for now. Wait until the investigation settles, then we come back.”

“Right now? You go back? That’s like walking straight into a tiger’s den.”

Vivian wasn’t blind to his logic. But she had her own unwavering principle.

“I’m sorry, Kong,” she said softly, “but I can’t run. If I do, everyone will assume I’m the thief. No matter what happens later, they’ll see me as a criminal.”

“I’d rather die proving my innocence than live with that shame.”

“…”

Chen Kong and Liu Ma fell silent.

They’d tried convincing her. Failed every time.

That’s why Liu Ma had snapped earlier, telling Chen Kong to just leave her behind.

Who in their right mind walks into a trap knowing it’s a trap?

That’s not bravery—that’s stupidity.

But perhaps not wanting to drag her friends into her fate, Vivian finally spoke again.

“Kong, Liu Ma… I know you’re good people. And I know how much this is hurting you.”

“But my father, William—his knight’s oath… it can’t die with me. I won’t let him be disgraced.”

“So even if I die… I’ll make sure the truth comes out. I’ll make them give me back my name.”

“Damn it!” Liu Ma snapped, pulling at his hair. “Are you serious, Knight Lady? Your head must’ve hit something!”

“Just run! Come back when it’s safe! What’s so hard about being flexible?!”

Vivian remained calm. “If I run… it means I’ve already surrendered to evil. I can’t do that. I must protect what my father gave me.”

“The name of Clock Knight… it cannot fall into my hands.”

“…”

Silence.

Liu Ma had nothing left to say.

He couldn’t comprehend why she was so stubborn—she was pure, unyielding knight-mentality. A complete fool.

Yet… despite that, he couldn’t just abandon her.

Even he couldn’t explain why.

Just as Liu Ma was grinding his teeth, ready to grab her and drag her out by force—if necessary—a black blade sliced through the ceiling above them.

In a split second, Chen Kong yanked Vivian aside, narrowly avoiding a collapsing slab of concrete.

Dust filled the air.

Then, a calm, unfamiliar voice echoed through the room.

“I admire your courage, Miss Vivian. But I must follow the Association’s rules.”

“So… may I ask you to come with me to the branch office?”

Tian Dao landed gracefully, his Fifth Squad uniform fluttering in the breeze.

The three men froze.

They’d expected to be found—by the Stellar Envoy Association or the Gear Church—but never this fast.

And worse… it was the Steam Branch’s Fifth Squad captain.

The tension was thick.

Then—out of nowhere—a high-pitched cry pierced the air.

“Shuimo-sama! Help Dannika! She’s falling!”

They turned.

Dannika was half-stuck in a crack in the ceiling, her tiny legs kicking wildly, her pink hair flailing as she teetered on the edge—on the verge of a disastrous fall.

Tian Dao: “…”

Chen Kong & Liu Ma: “…”

The moment had been tense, even deadly.

But now, the entire atmosphere cracked with absurdity.

Because of the All-Forms Concealment Tian Dao had maintained earlier, Chen Kong and the unconscious Liu Ma hadn’t heard Dannika’s name.

So seeing a pink-haired girl in a Stellar Envoy uniform dangling from the ceiling—she looked nothing like the masked figure they’d seen before—no connection was made.

Only the Dimensional Audience knew her name.

And now, they were furious.

They’d been certain the masked figure was Tian Dao. No other possibility.

But now, here was a different man—black-haired, black-eyed, wearing boring glasses, holding a sword at his waist, and still carrying Dannika.

How could this be?!

They’d been played by the creators!

But then, someone pointed out: The masked man had sapphire-blue eyes. This Shuimo has black eyes.

So claiming he was the same person? Too hasty.

But that argument didn’t settle the debate.

Soon, the Dimensional Audience was locked in an intense discussion:

- Was the masked man Tian Dao?

- Was Shuimo the masked man?

- Could Shuimo even be Tian Dao?

Each side had strong evidence. No one could convince the other.

And in the chaos, Shuimo—once a background character—suddenly became a controversial figure.

Yes, it was a bit of a Tian Dao-themed stunt.

But it worked.

The once-ordinary Shuimo now had a spotlight.

And that was exactly Tian Dao’s plan.

Because everyone thought he was on the first floor.

But really… he was in the atmosphere.

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Chapter end